Nature

Departing council member Gyna Bivens helped Fort Worth enhance tree protections after seven years of advocacy. The new ordinance nearly doubles protected tree species, mandates preserving significant post oak and blackjack oak canopies, and raises penalties for illegal removal. It balances developer needs and aims to expand the urban canopy.

In 2021, Kristi Kerr Leonard and I hiked the neglected Ned and Genie Fritz Texas Buckeye Trail with Eileen Fritz McKee. Overgrown trails and invasive privet strangle the buckeyes. Leonard led restoration efforts, reviving the trail and Buckeye Walks in 2023, attracting dozens of first-time forest visitors.

PepsiCo researchers in North Texas are using compost bins to test biodegradable food packaging, aiming to replace plastic waste. The facility accelerates innovation, striving for home compostability and marine degradability. Amid criticism of plastic pollution, PepsiCo seeks to lead with eco-friendly packaging by 2025.

Fort Worth, in partnership with the Texas Trees Foundation, seeks public input for its first Urban Forest Master Plan. The plan will evaluate urban forest resources, identify priority planting areas, and create a strategic vision. A virtual workshop highlighted issues like clearcutting and tree preservation. Feedback is open via a survey until February's end.

Fort Worth joined the Trust for Public Land's 10-Minute Walk Park Equity Accelerator to improve park access, leveraging funding and expertise to overcome outdoor equity barriers. With only 61% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park, this initiative aims to enhance health, climate, and community benefits citywide.

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area is reviving its trail run after eight years, offering the Woods and Wetlands 6K+ and the Earth Day Dash. Scheduled for April 23, proceeds support restoration efforts. The event features a new Stewart Creek Trail and emphasizes participation over competition, including snacks and educational activities.

Windmill Hill Preserve in DeSoto, a project led by local Paul S. Dryer, transformed from a failed development site into a nature preserve. Named a trail after legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, it honors environmental and musical legacies, with community involvement and support from local authorities.

The Texas Legislature designated Chorioactis geaster, "Texas Star," as the State Mushroom. Native to North Texas, this rare fungus grows on decaying cedar elm stumps and is also found in Japan. Not for consumption, its unique star shape and hissing spore release highlight Texas's natural diversity.

The Arlington vote advances a fully funded Fort Worth-Dallas Regional Trail plan, bridging a gap between the two cities with a 30-mile trail. A projected 2023 completion promises expanded connectivity and health benefits, as supported by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price.